University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

When I applied for college, I only selected a few schools; when it came time to decide, my options were few. Fortunately, I was very lucky to have UNC-CH on my list, and I am extremely happy with my choice. My lesson was to keep my options open, and also my mind. Go into college with an open mindset, and you will find that wherever you go, it's the right place. As a freshman in a brand new environment with no friends to speak of, you may feel overwhelmed with apathy and homesickness and just want to sit in your dorm room all day. Mark my words - this will drive you crazy. Its imperative to get up and go outside and make friends. Because the friends you make a college will become your friends for life. Join something, whether its a sports team, a club, a fraternity or sorority, or any other organization. I run cross country on my school's team, and I would not trade the friendships I have made for anything in the world. Try new things, step out of your comfort zone, and you may be surprised with the new fun things you discover.

Parents- Be supportive of your child's decision or search for a good university. At times guidance is certainly needed from parents and at times I would go as far as saying it is your responisbility to provide such guidance. However, support and encourage them, don't demand or force them. Students- College is a jumpstart to your occupation later in life. Choose a school that will best equip you for the future you want to have and don't hesitate to invest in your studies. On the same note however, college has the potential to be a lot of fun where you can make life long friends. Look for a school that is well balanced between the academia and the social atmosphere.

First, visit anywhere you think you might like to go and even some places you're not too interested in. It's very important to get a feel for the campus and brochures and websites can't give you the true experience. Also, if you don't know your major, pick a school with a lot of options so you have freedom to try different things adn change your mind. This is important even if you think you know what you want to major in. Once you get to school, be flexible, with roommates, class schedules, even your major choice. Life plans can change and that's OK. It's important for parents to understand this too. If your kid doesn't want to be a doctor like you've always planned for him, that's OK. Ultimately, it's better to be happy than rich.

Make sure that you not only judge the school on other people's perception but yours as well. What may be the greatest school for one individual may be the worst for another. Make sure that the school you choose is absolutely the one that you want to be at. Make sure to schedule a campus visit, don't only talk to the tour guide, talk to other students you may see around campus and ask them about their perception of the school. You will be surprised by how many different opinions you will get. Conversations with present students may be your deciding factor. Basically, just make sure that you are prepared for the big step you are about to take, remember, you're probably going to be at this school the next 2-4 years of your life. Make sure you choose the right one!

The quality of the academics is the single most important thing when choosing a school. Students everywhere will find ways to have fun, so don't worry about extracurriculars or where your friends are going. Go to the most academically sound university that will accept you. After you choose a school, do research on what you want to do after school to get an idea of what your major will be. Knowing what you want to do heading into your first year will give you a huge advantage and prevent a stressful sophomore year. After you've found your school and know what you'd like to major in, register for easy classes your first semester to get acclimated to the new environment and the demands of college. These classes should not include: physics, biochemistry or advanced math courses. Take some general requirement courses or pre-reqs for your chosen major and ease into it. Good luck.

Everyone is mesmerized by national rankings when it comes to college, but there's the factor only you can sort schools by, and not a national ranking: the "me" factor, or how well the school fits your needs and interests. I highly recommend taking a summer or long break to tour schools in the region your're interested in, and to be especially aware of aspects of the campus outside of the brochure and the campus tour. Observe the type of students that attend: Are they diverse? Friendly? Do they seem to be academically-minded? Try to even find people in areas you're interested in to talk to, such as a student group, a professor, or a coach. When you've assessed what how comfortable you will be at the school, gauge how the school fits your major and career interests. In the job market, GPA and the credibility of the school you attended are certainly qualities of a strong applicant, but many employers also look to specific schools that trian people well for their field. After all of this, you will have done all you can to ensure a productive and satisfying undergraduate experience.

I would advice parents and future students to not judge colleges based on stereotypes or reputations, but rather, I would advice them to take tours of prospective campuses. It's not just the academics, school spirit, or open-mindedness that sets some colleges apart, like the University of North Carolina, but it's the feeling you get when you're there that really grabs a hold of you and does not let go. I would advice parents and students to go to their prospective college and fall in love; because if you don't, it's not the right school for you.

Choose a college that would fit your lifestyle and something that you are somewhat similar to. It is also very important to make sure you have your finances aligned to make sure these are things that you don't have to worry about during the school year so it won't interfere with academics.

I would tell someone to find a school that is full of people similar to them in their goals and work ethic, but diverse in culture and beliefs.

Take your time!